Editors' Review

Free Virtual Keyboard is a simple Windows program that provides an onscreen keyboard in a portable package. There are many instances in which a virtual keyboard can come in handy. You might be using a touch screen, typing in a foreign language, or just wanting an emergency backup in case your physical keyboard goes kaput.

The keyboard's interface is plain and utilitarian, with a standard QWERTY layout. A slider in the bottom right corner adjusts the keyboard's transparency. We had read that the program had a few other features, but it took us a while to figure out how to access them, as the interface doesn't contain any menus. We finally realized that right-clicking on the program's title bar brought up a context menu with a few options. You can enable or disable key repeat and specify whether or not you want the keyboard to fit the width of your screen.

There are also seven different color schemes, all fairly bland, which you can change by selecting the Change Colors option on the menu. This is an awkward way to do this--we'd prefer to be able to select our desired color from a drop-down menu--but it works well enough. There are three keyboard types that are accessed in the same way; one displays the keyboard without the function keys or the arrow keys, one displays the keyboard with the function keys but not the arrow keys, and the third displays both the function keys and the arrow keys on the keyboard. The program doesn't have a Help file, but there is a Web site that offers a little bit of information about its features. Overall, we think that Free Virtual Keyboard is a good choice for anyone who needs a basic, portable virtual keyboard.

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Publisher's Description

Free Virtual Keyboard is software that simulates the hardware keyboard on the computer screen and adds some elegant features. You can change size and transparency of virtual keyboard with one click at any time. The autorepeat function means that all relevant keys would auto-repeat when pressed continuously. Free Virtual Keyboard is a totally portable application; bring your virtual on-screen keyboard with you from PC to PC.

The scenario is this: I took my pen-flash which is loaded with Portable Office, sided with my data. Now, I work in the Far East, and many times that I borrow a PC to use my Flash-Portable, I find that the borrowed computer is in Chinese, or another language.OK, in this case I use the Virtual Keyboard.

Cons

Infrequent use, it is only a spare wheel.But, when required, it may be critical.

i have just gotten my desktop back from a repairman. it needed to be rebooted. i soon found out that my computer would have a mini virus if i pressed any button on my keyboard. it took a long time with no keyboard, but i was finally on cnet.com with search results for "keyboard". i found this, pressed download, and the program appeared immediately on my monitor. this is what i call a "one-time install". it does not take up any memory at all! but the only little thing i didn't like about it was since it was a one-time install, if you accidently close it, you have to reinstall it. good program though. i'm typing this through the keyboard program right now!

I like the fact that it will hide your keystrokes when using a machine with a key logger.

Cons

The only thing that I have a problem is that every time you run the program the help screen pops up and get saved to your desktop. Not too much of an issue as you can close the screen and move the file from your desk top to the trash.

Summary

Over all a good program if you are going to sites that your employer is monitoring. Also good for circumventing key loggers however be aware that certain key loggers also have the capacity to take screen shots of web site you may go to.

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